Haze

Older Comments on Haze

• Posted 12/19/10 by Brett
  This is a great film with a messege that needs to get out. It's great it's available for free on Snag, but not everyone has an internet connection or a fast enough connection for that matter. In the same vein not all of us have $500.00 to purchase the dvd to show people without connecting to the internet. What I'm getting at is this should be available for free download to spread the messege even farther. I could show so many more people if I could carry it around with me. It would really be nice if the price of the dvd was lowered to something normal and ask for donations to the foundation. I understand why they're charging $500.00, but in this economy who's got an extra $500 to buy a dvd? Just a thought anyway. Great documentary though.
• Posted 11/08/10 by Rob @ CU
  I'm currently writing a research paper on Hazing here at CU Boulder, and I have to say, this movie was terrible. Aside from Gordie's story, the film hardly addressed hazing at all. Had it been called "Booze" or "Binge" or something of that nature, I'd have been more accepting of the film's concluding messages, but the majority of the film was about underage binge drinking. Got news for you guys - not all hazing incidents involve alcohol! Well, I also learned something today - not all movie titles have anything to do with the movie. Now, do not get me wrong. I am in no way in support of hazing. I attended a military school for four years, and I have personally witnessed the horrifying nature of this criminal offense. As such, my deepest sympathies go out to Gordie's family and all those who have been affected by hazing - I have yet to meet someone who has never encountered it at some point during their life (be it on an athletic team, Greek organization or a social group). But this movie.. I am now an hour and a half behind on research that could have been better spent reading valuable resources. The only reason I watched this movie was because it was endorsed by The Gordie Foundation/Center/Case/Organization at UVA (speaking of which, why is it at UVA?). The filmmaker should seriously reconsider the misleading name of this film.
• Posted 11/03/10 by NKOTB
  Dude, we just watched this doc. Every time someone in the film says "alcohol" or "fraternity" you have to take a shot! RIPPED. Mos def suggest trying it. Barely walk. hahahaha
• Posted 10/12/10 by gene wade
  if they are 18 or 21 they think they can do anything thry want' think stop now that over drinking call 911 '
• Posted 08/06/10 by anon
  "Save a life. Make the call." That quote killed this whole thing. I thought the documentary was about how awful binge drinking is in the first place. Seems it swept the dominant issue under the rug in favor of binge drinking not really being an issue as long as you make sure you call 911 if someone passes out. The light-hearted ending with the awful music made it real easy to forget everything I just saw throughout the film and gave it the feel of one of those cheesy informational films that adults think appeal to kids. It's a shame Gordie died the way he did, but I hate how that quote almost single-handedly passes all the blame onto the surrounding frat boys instead of reminding us that Gordie was just as much in the wrong and shouldn't have been drinking that much. I lost a close cousin to a heroine overdose, so I can relate. His friends left him sitting in a wheelchair outside the doors of an emergency room as he went brain-dead because they were afraid of getting in trouble (same situation). It's wrong what they did, but had my cousin not shot up in the first place, he wouldn't have put his life in danger. I don't think I'm being insensitive; I'm just being a realist. And Brian..they flash the actual definition of 'haze' at the beginning of the film. Your use is slang, my dude. Just in case you missed it, it's a noun that means 'confusion characterized by lack of clarity.' And it's kids like you that keep this activity perpetual because you think you HAVE to participate in drinking. Instead of being a weak-ass conformist, make your own choices and create your own, individual persona. That's how social change comes about. And get some Jesus while you're at it, my dude.
• Posted 08/02/10 by Amity
  While I definitely agree with the message against excessive drinking and irresponsibility, I am slightly offended by the way this documentary forces Greek life and dangerous drinking to go hand in hand.I am a proud member of a sorority, and I have never been hazed, put under pressure to drink, or in any way asked to compromise myself. Our sorority actually has rather strict rules about how we treat our new members, and we choose to build the bonds of sisterhood in entirely positive ways. And while I'm sure our group is the exception rather than the rule, we do exist, and there are other organizations like us. I know several people who, after seeing this documentary, decided not to go Greek at all rather than exploring their options, and it saddens me to know that blanket statements against Greek life continue to hurt those of us who are trying to make it as positive an experience as possible. Kids need to know that there are campus groups out there - both Greek and non-Greek - that will cherish and respect them as individuals and encourage them to be better students, sisters, brothers, and friends. Too much energy is being wasted trying to "scare kids straight" rather than showing them ways to improve the situation.
• Posted 07/08/10 by f.
  I truly belive that all imcomming students should be exposed to a film such as this. It is not supporting "DO NOT DRINK" but rather be aware of the consequences involved in binge drinking. This is a very unfortunate event but it has a very important message. I have a 17 year old brother and I know he drinks, I just want to send this link to him and be like look at what can happen! There is a lot to be said about simple things such as this that could have been avoided had there been the proper education and certain openess that needs to exist between parents, teachers, and children.
• Posted 04/07/10 by b
  Looks like it's time that the drinking age should be changed so underage drinking can be better monitored. Supporters of the 21 year old minimum drinking age,such as Wechsler, are quick to point to the successes while ignoring many of the problems because of it. Under-age drinking did not disappear with the 21 MLDA and in some ways researchers believe the problem got worse. Besides making criminals of millions of young people, the 21 MLDA encourages the young to binge in secret. Wechsler actually believes that the 21 MLDA may be the single most effective method to combat alcohol use and its adverse consequences among young people. A younger drinking age and alcohol education at a younger age is the only way to solve the problem.
• Posted 03/23/10 by ergibson
  I just don't understand how these young people end up passed out all by themselves. If there is someone willing to watch over them and make sure they are okay, it's not always necessary to call an ambulance when a friend is passed out drunk; that, to me, is fraternity. Often, we drink to be accepted, to loosen our inhibitions, to make friends... This documentary made me wonder, what has the idea of "friend" evolved to mean?
• Posted 02/10/10 by Hopeful
  I would first like to say that I currently live in the house in which Gordie passed, and after watching "Haze," I cannot help but think of him every time I walk past the library on my way out the front door. Everyday each person who lives here thinks about his death even though 6 years have already passed. His story will never be forgotten and this story has truly touched the hearts of all University of Colorado students. This film has caused me and everyone else I know to change the way we look upon life. We are no longer the invincible people we once thought we were. I think many people may be confused on the actual topic and perhaps a bit naïve on the subject, many do not understand the importance of reaching out to fraternities and sororities, but this is an issue that is all too common. This was an act of hazing; forcing the incoming/rushing freshman to finish bottle after bottle of alcohol in front of you and telling them that they cannot leave the camp grounds until all the liquor is gone IS hazing. In lieu to this video: we students at the University of Colorado say keep doing what you're doing with this, it has touched many, many people and I am sure in time campuses can get this growing issue under control.
• Posted 01/10/10 by brian
  i am a 19 year old college student and after watching this movie i will not stop binge drinking and blacking out on a regular basis the way i do. its college, people have fun, people drink. its a shame that some over do it/mix pills with alcohol and dont get the care they need, but tragedies happen and even their friends and family will drink later despite what happened, so how do you expect to show this to a group of young teens and say 'this could happen to you' and convert them all to sobriety for their college life. and btw this film should be called peer pressure and not haze. hazing is beating the #### out of pledges with paddles and peer pressure is feeling you need to out drinking all your friends til you dont wake up.
• Posted 12/15/09 by Sarah Wersan
  After seeing this film, I'm thinking about all the young people who survive this orgy of college drinking and go on to become adults who handle stress by drinking and become tomorrow's alcoholics. I appreciate how thought provoking the film is in exploring the underlying issues of drinking among young people.
• Posted 09/27/09 by tiffany dean
  first off. . . Thank you for opening your hearts to the public in such a way that allows us to analyze your situation anonymously and unbiased. I greatly appreciate the candor and honesty at the look of images, probably still unsettling to the parents and all other parties involved. I am the mother of a 13 year old son. He was created my first time having sex when i was 16. Very real, very true. I am in the current whirlwind of emotionally sensitive tornado my kid has jumped into. trying to fit in, fighting for more freedom, processing emotion and all the while trying to figure himself out. I was lucky enough to have a trade at a young age that has bought me pretty far in this world, but my kid... I just never wanted him to go straight to college after high school because the people you tend to compete with for the good jobs are THOSE GUYS because of their connections as kids. I want him to travel. Experience himself in other climates and situations. Different lands and languages. Then maybe, hopefully, probably will have a better chance at seeing beauty in everything and everybody, therefore, not having to subject himself in such a manner to receive the love and attention he is seeking( be it good, or bad). I love my kid, as all of us parents do. We want whats best. You want them to not be the kid on the floor, or even the kid who lives the rest of their lives feeling even worse about themselves because someone they cared about could still be here. I am purchasing the DVD for my son to show him over and over. This is very real. Life is very real. Be smart. . . thank you!!!
• Posted 09/16/09 by Tommy Clonts
  This is one of the most saddening and vital films that I have ever seen. This is incredibly relevant, and should be advocated. Personally, I feel terrible for having contributed to these exact behaviors and circumstances. There are hundreds of issues of the most pressing importance highlighted in this film. Anyone with any sense of community will relate to the importance of finding a use for their voice in addressing these issues.
• Posted 09/02/09 by Christie
  I absolutely love the message this documentary is putting out there. As a young mother and a past college student, I feel as though this video has really changed my views on the message I would like to get out as well. Death, for me, has always seemed impossible. Recently I have lost a friend to something that could have been prevented too. Even though I haven’t seen him in a few years I some how feel responsible. I should have offered my help. My child is a sweet and innocent two year old. I pray that I will be able to remember this video when my son is 16. Every child should watch this video. I am so sorry for Gordie's family's loss.
• Posted 09/01/09 by outlaw
  this is a b unch of bull#### they need to just ban sororities from college period and stop the ####. Cal poly slo is the worst 2 deaths this year
• Posted 08/09/09 by benji
  you know, when they refer to chocolate stout or some other chocolate brewed item, they are referencing the degree of toast on the malt, that is chocolate malts do not contain chocolate, they are just roasted until they are somewhat burnt, and after the brewing process tastes like chocolate. If i was trying to support an argument about marketing alcohol to young people, i would go after the alcho-pop brands. The chocolate style beers have a lot of flavor and is a more acquired taste. If i ever saw a chocolate budweiser then maybe i would start to accept what this gentleman is saying. His assertion that they put chocolate syrup in beer is just plain wrong.
• Posted 08/03/09 by Fred Atkinson
  My skull was fractured in a high school hazing incident. It involved revenge from the upper classmen because when an upper classman deliberately struck me in the mouth, I defended myself. Twenty-four hours later, a group of upper classman attacked me, one held me in a downward headlock as the two of us fell to the floor with the top of my head striking the concrete reinforced floor under the weight of both of us. When I broke loose and defended myself, I was struck in the right eye causing blood to gush out and soak me. My vision was seriously impaired (I had double vision for more than six months), and when my skull was later x-rayed, it was discovered that my skull was fractured in two places around my right eye. The surgeon that x-rayed my skull said that he believed that the boy had to have had something in his hand when he hit me to do that much damage with a single blow to my skull. After remembering the amount of pain from that single blow, I believe that the surgeon was correct. I've always asked why such a stupid incident had to take place. The answer is, it didn't. If only that state had had an anti-hazing law at that time that this might have never happened. Thankfully, it does now. There's nothing cool about hazing. It often encourages aggressive, abusive behavior by kids who don't know what the word responsibility means. I currently live in another state than the one this incident occurred in. It is one of the six states that does not have an anti-hazing law on the books. We recently had a high school incident in this state involving a sports team. Broom handles were stuck into the rectums of 'rookies'. The upper classman were charged with assault and subsequently convicted and sentenced. But if such a law had been on the books, this might have never happened, either. The school would've taken steps to see that hazing was not permitted. There is only one correct word to described hazing: STUPID.
• Posted 05/31/09 by Montee Opie
  My experiences as a fraternity member were of great value to me......with the sole exception of receiving hazing or being expected to haze those who pledged subsequent to my becoming a member. The fraternity experiences was a splendid opportunity for expanding as a individual, learning to work in cooperation with a group, and set goals for self improvement as well as shared improvement Hazing seemed to be, and in my mind continues to seem out of place. Why begin a process of joining in a fellowship on a negative basis? It makes no sense to me......"back when" and NOW.
• Posted 04/02/09 by Susan Kelly
  This film was thought-provoking, troubling and educational. As a mother of a freshman at a sorority, I remember questioning her response if she were asked to violate her own code of ethics. Her response was that she consistantly asked questions about hazing throughout the pledging process emphasizing her no- tolerance- stance. She was afraid of the possiblity of something happening and made it clear that the sorority membership was not more important than her self-worth. Perhaps that is part of the problem the often promoted/perceived value of Greek life and the importance of a membership. Plenty of students have great success socially without the ties to the Greek life. It isn't for everyone. Ultimately we need to teach our kids acceptable limits, what is okay and what isn't and what to do and say if the latter happens. In some ways, I feel as parents/adults we have become too complacent and if our children witnessed our acts of committment and courage more often, they would follow in our footsteps. Robin Wright Penn, what a perfect choice having you as a spokesperson, as you exemplify a genuine concern and inner strength which is a model to all of us raising children with the same concerns/worries. Nice job Snag Films for taking on the project; alcohal manufacturers and distributors along with the pro-alcohol media should be offering this film to every senior high school class in the country.
• Posted 04/02/09 by Kristin
  What a powerful film! I have two kids graduating from college and I know we talked about drinking, etc. during high school and college. The fact that they are "on their own" with "friends" makes it all the more painful when you realize as a parent that other children are not taught to stick by their friends and not leave someone in a situation like Gordie. I think all youth groups and their parents, all high school students AND their parents need to watch this film. Thank you to the Bailey family and Robin Wright Penn for shining a light on a tragic and personally painful event to help us all remember what is truly important - to teach one another to care for one another, to raise our children with a healthy respect for life!
• Posted 03/26/09 by Patriciahf
  That was a very powerful documentary and I hope it is shown to all high schools across the country and shown again as students are entering universities. Thank You Robin Wright Penn and thank you SnagFilms for sharing this.
• Posted 02/04/09 by Natalie
  Michael, Greek life is WONDERFUL and as a Greek advisor and a member of an organization. I know the good and bad...just like join the university band or a sports team. Explore what each organization has to offer. See what they do one campus and in the community, find out what their chapter GPA is, research is they received recognition and awards from the national. Greek do so many great things but the negative is what's highlight...the negative should be hidden by any means but I just want to offer the other side. :o) I hope this helps
• Posted 02/04/09 by Natalie
  As a university adminstrator I have to say that this case first and foremost was tragic and unfortunate. I would also like to say that this was NOT handle properly by the fraternity or the university. I would like to speak to those of us in the field of higher eudcation who are committed to student safey. In the end wr can't be the parent aware from home and we can not instill values...we care, we are involved and we do respond. Speaking for my institution was response to every alcohol incident aling with the police...we go to the hospital with our students but in the end reducing the number of aochol related deaths on college campus can not be resolved by the institution alone. Parents PLEASE talk to your child about alcohol and responsibile consumption, talk to them about peer pressure talk to the about personal intrgrity and accountability. Without these core values your children are coming to college ill perpaared. There are so many wonderful people and opportunities awaiting them but it only take one mistake...one too many drinks.
• Posted 02/03/09 by Michael Gnanakone
  Interesting... I am a college student myself and was thinking about joining a frat... it is going to make me think twice.
• Posted 12/10/08 by EZRATTI Vincent
  Hello, I am very sorry not to have access in the movie cause of my region of residence(I live in France).Could you please inform me when it will be possible for me to watch the movie in France (if not available on the web)where hazing(here,we call it "bizutage)is still alive despite a law which punished those who take advantage of it. Thanks great.
• Posted 10/27/08 by Donica Awender
  Thank you for this honnest movie. I have a teenage son who will be going to college in 2 years...thank you.